News Summary: Nuclear waste a headache for SKorea

In this Nov. 7, 2012 photo, farmer Keiko Kikukawa walks through her field where she just finished harvesting organic-grown rhubarbs in Rokasho village, Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan. By hosting a high-tech facility that would convert spent fuel into a plutonium-uranium mix designed for the next generation of reactors, Rokkasho was supposed to provide fuel while minimizing nuclear waste storage problems. Those ambitions are falling apart because years of attempts to build a “fast breeder” reactor, which would use the reprocessed fuel, appear to be ending in failure. "It's so unfair that Rokkasho is stuck with the nuclear garbage from all over Japan," Kikukawa said. "And it's not going to go away even if the Rokkasho plant stops immediately. We're dumping it all onto our offsprings to take care of. It's so irresponsible." (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

In this Nov. 8, 2012 photo, the Rokkasho spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant facilities, run by Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd., stand in Rokkasho village in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan. By hosting a high-tech facility that would convert spent fuel into a plutonium-uranium mix designed for the next generation of reactors, Rokkasho was supposed to provide fuel while minimizing nuclear waste storage problems. Those ambitions are falling apart because years of attempts to build a “fast breeder” reactor, which would use the reprocessed fuel, appear to be ending in failure. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

In this Nov. 7, 2012 photo, farmer Keiko Kikukawa stands in her field in Rokasho village, Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan. By hosting a high-tech facility that would convert spent fuel into a plutonium-uranium mix designed for the next generation of reactors, Rokkasho was supposed to provide fuel while minimizing nuclear waste storage problems. Those ambitions are falling apart because years of attempts to build a “fast breeder” reactor, which would use the reprocessed fuel, appear to be ending in failure. "It's so unfair that Rokkasho is stuck with the nuclear garbage from all over Japan," Kikukawa said. "And it's not going to go away even if the Rokkasho plant stops immediately. We're dumping it all onto our offsprings to take care of. It's so irresponsible." (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

This Nov. 8, 2012 photo shows the low-level radioactive waste disposal center, a part of the Rokkasho spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant facilities, run by Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd., in Rokkasho village in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan. By hosting a high-tech facility that would convert spent fuel into a plutonium-uranium mix designed for the next generation of reactors, Rokkasho was supposed to provide fuel while minimizing nuclear waste storage problems. Those ambitions are falling apart because years of attempts to build a “fast breeder” reactor, which would use the reprocessed fuel, appear to be ending in failure. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

This Nov. 8, 2012 photo shows a floor crane, foreground, and storage pits at the vitrified high-level radioactive waste storage center, a part of the Rokkasho spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant facilities, run by Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd. in Rokasho village in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan. By hosting a high-tech facility that would convert spent fuel into a plutonium-uranium mix designed for the next generation of reactors, Rokkasho was supposed to provide fuel while minimizing nuclear waste storage problems. Those ambitions are falling apart because years of attempts to build a "fast breeder" reactor, which would use the reprocessed fuel, appear to be ending in failure. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

In this Nov. 8, 2012 photo, spent nuclear fuel rods are stored in a storage pool at the Rokkasho nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, run by Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd. in Rokasho village in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan. By hosting a high-tech facility that would convert spent fuel into a plutonium-uranium mix designed for the next generation of reactors, Rokkasho was supposed to provide fuel while minimizing nuclear waste storage problems. Those ambitions are falling apart because years of attempts to build a "fast breeder" reactor, which would use the reprocessed fuel, appear to be ending in failure. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

In this Nov. 8, 2012 photo, spent nuclear fuel rods are stored in a storage pool at the Rokkasho nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, run by Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd. in Rokasho village in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan. By hosting a high-tech facility that would convert spent fuel into a plutonium-uranium mix designed for the next generation of reactors, Rokkasho was supposed to provide fuel while minimizing nuclear waste storage problems. Those ambitions are falling apart because years of attempts to build a "fast breeder" reactor, which would use the reprocessed fuel, appear to be ending in failure. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

This Nov. 8, 2012 photo, Rokkasho Mayor Kenji Furukawa speaks in his office in Rokkasho village, Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan. Furukawa said his village of 11,000 people cannot do without the Rokkasho spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant because the plant, its affiliates and related businesses provide most of the jobs. "A change of policy is a huge blow to us and could even affect the fate of this village, so we want the government to stick to the program," Furukawa said. "Without the plant, this is going to be a marginal place." (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

This Nov. 8, 2012 photo, Rokkasho Mayor Kenji Furukawa speaks in his office in Rokkasho village, Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan. Furukawa said his village of 11,000 people cannot do without the Rokkasho spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant because the plant, its affiliates and related businesses provide most of the jobs. "A change of policy is a huge blow to us and could even affect the fate of this village, so we want the government to stick to the program," Furukawa said. "Without the plant, this is going to be a marginal place." (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

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PACKED STORAGE: South Korea's radioactive waste storage is filling up, but what South Korea sees as its best solution — reprocessing the spent fuel so it can be used again — faces stiff opposition from its U.S. ally.

NUCLEAR PROBLEM: South Korea It is now the world's fifth-largest nuclear energy producer, operating 23 reactors. A commission will be launched before this summer to start public discussion on permanent storage of spent nuclear fuel rods.

THE TREATY: Nuclear technology was originally transferred from the U.S. under a 1973 treaty that governs how its East Asian ally uses nuclear technology and explicitly bars reprocessing.